by Linda StrakerNaDMA Board of Directors mandated in 2023 Disaster Management ActBoard shall serve for a term of 3 years, effective from 1 February 2026Legislation provides for an advisory council chaired by the prime ministerMore than 2 years after the law went into effect, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell who also serves as Minister for the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) has appointed the first Board of Directors for the agency as mandated in the 2023 Disaster Management Act. Chaired by Colin Dowe, the other board members are Carlyn Mc Quilkin as Deputy Chairman, Lazarus Joseph, Jessmon Prince, Samantha Dickson, Andre Charles, Jonell Benjamin, Lydia Browne and Sylvan Mc Intyre. “In accordance with the governing mandate, the Board shall serve for a term of 3 years, effective from February 1, 2026,” said the notice of the announcement, which was published in the 23 January 2026 edition of the Government Gazette. The notice was dated 20 January 2026 and signed by Prime Minister Mitchell. The council which is chaired by the Prime Minister is the body in which ministries and departments of government, statutory bodies, district disaster management committees, communities, private sector entities, non-governmental organisations, relief agencies, and faith-based organisations consult with each other and coordinate their actions on matters relating to disaster management and disaster risk management, including actions involving the financial response to disaster management.